New York, May 6, 2011--The Committee to Protect
Journalists welcomes the release of independent journalist Ernest
Vardanian, at left, who was unconditionally pardoned by the president of the unrecognized
separatist Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR).

Vardanian had served more than a year of jail time since the PMR arrested him on treason charges in April 2010; he was accused of allegedly spying for Moldova proper. Vardanian denied the charges. He was convicted in December in a closed trial and was serving a 15-year-long term until his pardon on Thursday. The PMR, commonly known as Transdniester, broke away from Moldova proper in 1990.

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Journalist given 15 years for espionage in Transdniestertag:cpj.org,2010://1.164322010-12-17T22:05:39Z2010-12-17T22:20:02ZCommittee to Protect Journalists
New York, December 17, 2010--The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the 15-year prison sentence given to independent journalist Ernest Vardanian, who has been held on falsified espionage charges in the unrecognized separatist Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR) since April. The PMR is commonly known as Transdniester, and broke away from Moldova proper in 1990.]]>
In Moldova, CPJ calls for Ernest Vardanian’s release tag:cpj.org,2010:/blog//8.146782010-05-12T18:01:02Z2010-05-12T21:30:42ZCommittee to Protect JournalistsWe issued the following statement today after authorities
in the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic released an alleged
confession by independent journalist Ernest Vardanian, who has been imprisoned
since April 7 on trumped-up treason charges ... ]]>
Journalist held incommunicado in Moldova's Transdniestertag:cpj.org,2010://1.145692010-04-16T21:50:49Z2010-04-19T14:01:21ZCommittee to Protect Journalists

New York, April 16, 2010—The Committee to Protect
Journalists called on authorities in the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian
Republic (PMR) to immediately release journalist Ernest Vardanian, at left, who has been
jailed in the regional capital of Tiraspol for treason since April 7.

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Attacks on the Press 2009: Europe and Central Asia Developmentstag:cpj.org,2010://1.139132010-02-16T05:00:20Z2010-02-17T16:32:36ZCommittee to Protect Journalistshttp://cpj.org/Border guards deny Romanian journalists entry to Moldovatag:cpj.org,2009://1.111132009-04-08T21:42:12Z2009-04-08T21:46:50ZNew York, April 8, 2009--The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Moldovan authorities today to allow Romanian journalists to enter Moldova and report on anti-communist rallies that have swept Moldova's capital, Chisinau, since Monday. Approximately 10,000 protesters took to the streets on Tuesday to protest Sunday's parliamentary election, which was...Committee to Protect JournalistsNew York, April 8,
2009--The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Moldovan authorities
today to allow Romanian journalists to enter Moldova and report on
anti-communist rallies that have swept Moldova's capital, Chisinau, since Monday. Approximately 10,000 protesters took to the streets on Tuesday to protest Sunday's
parliamentary election, which was won by President Vladimir Voronin's Communist
Party. ]]>
Attacks on the Press 2006: Europe Snapshotstag:216.139.245.96,2007://1.68212007-02-05T16:33:58Z2009-04-07T18:22:03ZCommittee to Protect JournalistsAttacks & Developments Throughout the Region]]>
Attacks on the Press 2006: Europe and Central Asia Snapshotstag:cpj.org,2008://1.67452007-02-05T15:08:00Z2009-04-06T16:50:24ZCommittee to Protect Journalists]]>
Popular Moldovan radio station still off the air; CPJ deplores shutdown
tag:216.139.245.96,2007://1.62262007-01-19T17:00:00Z2007-01-19T17:00:00ZNew York, January 19, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists deplores the suspension of the popular Chisinau-based public radio station Antena C. The station, which frequently aired reports critical of the government, has been off the air for more than a month, and local sources said they fear it is part...Committee to Protect Journalists
New York, January 19, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists deplores the suspension of the popular Chisinau-based public radio station Antena C. The station, which frequently aired reports critical of the government, has been off the air for more than a month, and local sources said they fear it is part of an official clampdown on news ahead of May elections.

Broadcasting was interrupted at 3 p.m. on December 16, while the station was airing a report that criticized a new government plan to privatize Antena C and the television station Euro TV, local sources told CPJ. Antena C journalists had also recently protested the authorities’ decision to change the station’s management; Veceaslav Sitnic, former chief editor for the government radio station Radio Moldova, had been named the new director.
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Interior Ministry searches television station, arrests employee
tag:216.139.245.96,2006://1.54602006-09-11T16:00:00Z2006-09-11T16:00:00ZNew York, September 11, 2006—Interior Ministry officials arrested an employee and searched the premises of an independent television station in Moldova’s capital, Chisinau, while investigating accusations of bribe-soliciting last week, according to press reports and CPJ interviews. Ghenadie Braghis, sales director at the Chisinau branch of the Romanian television station...Committee to Protect Journalists
New York, September 11, 2006—Interior Ministry officials arrested an employee and searched the premises of an independent television station in Moldova’s capital, Chisinau, while investigating accusations of bribe-soliciting last week, according to press reports and CPJ interviews. Ghenadie Braghis, sales director at the Chisinau branch of the Romanian television station Pro-TV, was arrested on Thursday evening and has been held incommunicado and without access to legal counsel.
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Attacks on the Press 2005: Europe & Central Asia Snapshotstag:216.139.245.96,2006://1.68852006-02-16T16:33:58Z2009-04-07T20:26:08ZAttacks and developments throughout the region...Committee to Protect JournalistsAttacks and developments throughout the region]]>
Attacks on the Press 2004: Moldovatag:216.139.245.96,2005://1.69902005-03-14T16:22:30Z2005-03-14T17:00:00ZMoldovaThirteen years after declaring independence from the Soviet Union, Moldova is plagued by a corrupt communist government, a stagnant economy, and an ongoing civil conflict with the breakaway Trans-Dniester Region. Corruption is widespread in a society where criminal groups have fused with the government and business. Independent and opposition media...Committee to Protect JournalistsMoldovaThirteen years after declaring independence from the Soviet Union, Moldova is plagued by a corrupt communist government, a stagnant economy, and an ongoing civil conflict with the breakaway Trans-Dniester Region. Corruption is widespread in a society where criminal groups have fused with the government and business. Independent and opposition media struggle to survive amid a general state of lawlessness and poverty that has forced many to align themselves with political parties to survive. The government continues to use politicized agencies to control the press.
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CPJ Updatetag:216.139.245.96,2004://1.86332004-12-15T21:02:00Z2009-04-23T17:27:30Z CPJ Update December 15, 2004 News from the Committee to Protect Journalists Return to front page | See previous Updates...Committee to Protect Journalists

CPJ Update
December 15, 2004News from the Committee to Protect Journalists

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Cameraman arrested during railway seizure; sentenced to 15 days in prison
tag:216.139.245.96,2004://1.38742004-09-09T16:00:00Z2004-09-09T16:00:00Z New York, September 8, 2004—A cameraman with the Chisinau-based state television station Moldova One was arrested and sentenced to 15 days in prison this week after trying to cover the seizure of a Moldovan railway station in the breakaway enclave of Trans-Dniester. The cameraman, Dinu Mija, and Moldova One...Committee to Protect Journalists
New York, September 8, 2004—A cameraman with the Chisinau-based state television station Moldova One was arrested and sentenced to 15 days in prison this week after trying to cover the seizure of a Moldovan railway station in the breakaway enclave of Trans-Dniester.

The cameraman, Dinu Mija, and Moldova One correspondent Lyudmila Munteanu were on assignment in Tighina (also known as Bender) on September 6, covering the railway center seizure by Transdniestrian authorities, local reports said. (Molodova One was formerly Teleradio Moldova.)
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Journalist attacked after exposing high-level corruption
tag:216.139.245.96,2004://1.38752004-06-25T16:00:00Z2004-06-25T16:00:00ZNew York, June 25, 2005—Alina Anghel, 29, an investigative journalist with the opposition weekly tabloid Timpul, based in Moldova's capital, Chisinau, was attacked outside her home on the morning of Wednesday, June 23, as she was leaving for work, according to local and international news reports....Committee to Protect JournalistsNew York, June 25, 2005—Alina Anghel, 29, an investigative journalist with the opposition weekly tabloid Timpul, based in Moldova's capital, Chisinau, was attacked outside her home on the morning of Wednesday, June 23, as she was leaving for work, according to local and international news reports.
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